Kittel Problem 1.3 Show that the c/a ratio for an ideal hexagonal close-packed structure is 8/3 = 1.633.

If c/a is signicantly larger than this value, the crystal structure may be thought of as composed of planes of closely packed atoms, the planes being loosely packed.

h. . .height of the equilateral triangle a. . .lattice constant 1 a= 4 3 a 4

h=

a2 (a/2)2 =

Distance x from an atom to the middle of the triangle: x= 2 2 h= 3 3 1 x= a 3 c 2 = a x2 = 2 c = a 1 a2 a2 = 3 8 3 2 a 3 3 a 4